What Happens to Canned Food if It Freezes?

Canned food is a convenient and shelf-stable way to store food for long periods of time. While most canned food items can stay safely unrefrigerated on the shelf, there are certain circumstances that can cause the cans to freeze. This can potentially damage the contents and compromise their safety.

The most common reason for canned products to freeze is due to cold weather conditions outside or in a storage space. If temperatures dip below freezing, this can cause the cans to freeze, even if they are stored inside a home or building. In addition, frozen foods inside refrigerators and freezers can also cause their nearby canned goods to freeze if they are not properly insulated or sealed off from the cold air.

What Happens When Canned Food Freezes?

When canned food freezes, it can cause the contents inside to expand by as much as 10%. This expansion creates an immense amount of pressure in the sealed container, which can eventually cause it to burst open.

The contents of the can then become exposed to oxygen which encourages bacterial growth and contamination. This makes them unsafe for consumption as they may contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella.

In addition, freezing temperatures also have an effect on the taste and texture of canned foods. The freezing process breaks down cell walls and causes them to become mushy when cooked after being thawed out—not ideal for those hoping for a delicious meal!

Conclusion

When canned food freezes, it has several potentially adverse effects on its contents including bacterial contamination and compromised flavor and texture. It is important to keep canned goods away from freezing temperatures by storing them somewhere warm or insulated in order to prevent any damage or spoilage.